Key-case



(No Model.)

. H. E. KEYBS.

KEY CASE.

No. 548,065. Patented Oct. 15, 1895.

ANINIIW lGINlM.Hld1D-UIHO-WASHIMGIUI.D.C.

NITE TATE Fries.

HARRY E. KEYES, OF HOMESTEAD, PENNSYLVANIA.

KEY-CASE- SPEGIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 548,065, dated October 15, 1895.

Application filed March 2, 1895.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HARRY E. KEYES, a citizen of the United States, residing at Homestead, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in KeyOases, of which the following is a full, clear, and-exact description. 1

The object of this invention is to provide a device which will subserve all the purposes of a key-ring and in addition will confine the keys in substantial alignment, so as to prevent them from becoming entangled with one another and with the pocket and other objects in the pocket. In attaining such obj ects I employ a folding case, preferably made in skeleton form and having its members united by a pin, which serves also to receive the bows of the keys and thereby connect the keys in and with the case, all as I will proceed now more particularly to set forth and finally claim.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating my invention, in the several figures of which like parts are similarly designated, Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the case partially open. Fig. 2 is a plan view, on theouter sides, of the case extended its full length. Fig. 3 is a plan View of the case closed and containing a bunch of keys of various sorts. Fig. 4. is a perspective view of the parts extended and in position for being assembled. Fig. 5 is an elevation and end view of the pin of a modification. Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the meeting ends of the members of the casein which the pin of Fig. 5 is employed, and Fig. 7 is an elevation of the joint formed of the parts shown in Figs. 5 and 6.

The case in the form of the device selected for illustration of the invention is composed of an outer member a, of sheet metal or other material, and having the sides I) and back 0. This back, as shown 'in Fig. 2, may have a roughened surface d, to serve as a scratcher for matches, and one or both sides may be provided with a measure of length e. The other member f, composing the case, has. the sides 9, which fall within the sides b, and the Serial No. 540,301- (No model.)

back of this member f is cut away, as at h, for lightness and for the protrusion of the bits of the keys. The ends of the sides b and g are provided with oppositely arranged pearshaped openings ij'and k 70, and thepoints of the openings 11 and j extend in the same direction 'for a purpose presently appearing, while the points of the openings 70 k may extend in opposite directions; or said openings may be other than pear-shaped. A pin Z, having a milled, knurled, or other head m and a laterally-extended point n, is adapted to be passed through the openings Zak and i j when they are aligned, in order to connect the twomembers of the case, and for the purpose of admitting the passage of the laterallyextended end n of said pin Z the openings 2' and j must have their points in alignment, so that when the members of the case are folded together the points of said openings'i and j will extend in opposite directions, and thus serve to embrace the pin behind this laterallyextended end and so look the said pin within the members of the case, and consequently lock the members of the case together, so that any objects threaded upon the pin Z will be held securely within the case. Obviously, by this construction, when it is desired to insert or remove a key relatively to the case, the members of the case must be extended, as in Fig. 2, so as to bring the points of the openings c' and j in alignment, and then the pin may be withdrawn within the sides. of the case, as indicated in dotted lines.

Fig.3 shows the case supplied with a nu mber of different kinds of keys locked therein.

As a modification of the devices for uniting the members of the case and permitting the insertion and removal of the keys, I have shown in Figs. 5, 6, and 7 a pin inwhich, instead of the laterally-extended end, I use a I groove 0, which is'back of the end and provided with a notch 19 in the end beyond the groove, and the holes 1" in the sides of the members of the case may be'of thesaine contour as the pin and be provided with projections 5 s of the contour of the notch 19 in the pin, so that when the pin has been passed through these holes 7' the projections s will extend into the groove 0, and thereafter, when the members of the case are folded together, the said members of the case will be locked together with the pin, as indicated in Fig. 7.

Very obviously other means may be employed for connecting the members of the case in such manner that keys may be applied to ,and removed from such case at pleasure.

For facilitating the opening and closing of to the case, the sides I) of the member a may be cut away, as at t, for the insertion of the fingers of the hand to grasp the inner memberf.

The members of the case are designed to fit so snugly together as to remain closed until forcibly opened.

Obviously by the use of my invention the keys will be bunched together, and not only so, but will be held in a compact flat condition, thus occupying as little space as possi- 2:0 ble in the pocket, and held against entanglement with one another and with the pocket and with otherobjects in the pocket.

My key-case may be conveniently and economically manufactured from sheet metal by blanking it out and stamping or other processes, and may be given any ornamentation that may be desired.

What I claim isl. A key case composed essentially of two 0 inter-folding members, and a pin connecting such members at one end and exposed within them, the keys being strung by their bows upon such pin and their shanks being confined within and between the folding members, substantially as described.

2. A key case composed of the inter-folding skeleton members, and a pin connecting them transversely and exposed within them to receive the keys, and provided with means for admitting of its partial disconnection from the members to permit the insertion and removal of a key, substantially as described.

3. A key case composed of inter-folding members,a movable pin applied transversely to such members for connecting them, and pin-retaining and releasing openings in said members operating respectively when the members are folded and opened, substantially as described.

4. A key case composed of a member at,

having sides I) and a back 0, and a member j" having sides 9 and an open back It, registering holes in the several sides of the said two members, and a pin adapted to be engaged in said holes and to connect the said members,

substantially as and for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 28th day of February, 1895.

HARRY E. KEYES. Witnesses:

WM. HESTON, H. E. LONG. 

